BENGALURU: The Baiyappanahalli and Peenya Metro depots will soon generate power through rooftop solar systems to meet their requirements. The excess power will be sold to BESCOM.

Briefing reporters on Friday, N M Dhoke, Director, (Rolling Stock, Signalling & Electrical), BMRCL, said around 10,000 units of power can be generated per day at both the depots through the solar systems.

“The capacity of the solar system in Peenya is 1.154MW and it can generate 5,983 units per day. The capacity at Baiyappanahalli is 1.456MW and it can generate 4,742 units per day.”

“The energy generated will be used to operate high jacks, compressors and lathe machines used in lifting coaches and other works,” he said. “The remaining power generated will be sold to BESCOM. We will sign a contract with them after working out the details,” Dhoke added.

The contract for installation of the solar systems has been awarded to Clean Max. “While BESCOM charges it Rs 5.70 per unit, Metro needs to pay Clean Max Rs 5.565 per unit of solar energy generated for first three years and Rs 6.6 for subsequent years,” he said.

The solar power tariff with the concern is fixed unlike the tariff hikes effected by BESCOM, Dhoke said. “BMRCL will save approximately Rs 51.74 crore over the next 25 years,” he added. The commissioning of the plants is likely to take six months.

Four depots in Metro’s Phase-II — Challaghatta, Whitefield, Kothanur and Hebbagodi — will also have solar systems, he said.